The GARP/MYB-related grape transcription factor AQUILO improves cold tolerance and promotes the accumulation of raffinose family oligosaccharides

Abstract

The stress-responsive AQUILO gene regulates the expression of GoLS genes and improves cold tolerance in association with the increase of raffinose family oligosaccharides.

The ethylene response factor VaERF092 from Amur grape regulates the transcription factor VaWRKY33, improving cold tolerance

“…Three lines with high expression of VaERF092 (#a, #b and #c) or VaWRKY33 (#e, #f and #g) were selected for cold tolerance studies. The cold tolerance of the transgenic Amur grape calli was evaluated by low‐temperature exotherms (LTEs) (Mills et al ., ; Sun et al ., ), and an empty vector line (EV) was used as a control. The LTE values of VaERF092 ‐overexpressing lines #a, #b, #c were −6.9, −8.0, −7.6°C, respectively, and of the VaWRKY33 ‐overexpressing lines #e, #f, #g were −7.3, −8.1, −7.6°C, respectively, whereas the LTE of the EV control was −5.8°C (Figure a).…”

“…In grapevine, systems biology approaches holds great promise in advancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning the regulation of key secondary metabolism pathways (Wong and Matus, ; Vannozzi et al ., ) and responses to the environment (Loyola et al ., ; Sun et al ., ). To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms exerted by VaERF092 and VaWRKY33 , we performed a systems‐oriented study encompassing: (i) GCNs of multiple species and platforms and (ii) network‐driven transcriptional analysis of cold stress responses and promoter CRE architecture.…”

“…To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms exerted by VaERF092 and VaWRKY33 , we performed a systems‐oriented study encompassing: (i) GCNs of multiple species and platforms and (ii) network‐driven transcriptional analysis of cold stress responses and promoter CRE architecture. We have recently shown that such approaches can be helpful in elucidating regulatory mechanisms exerted by grapevine AQUILO (Sun et al ., ). In this study, we observed a common theme of co‐expressed genes involved in the transcriptional regulation (e.g.…”

“…Micropropagated Amur grape plantlets were grown on half‐strength Murashige and Skoog (½MS, pH 5.8, PhytoTech) solid medium, as previously described (Sun et al ., ). Six‐week‐old plantlets with five well developed leaves were used for different treatments.…”

“…The identification of cold‐responsive genes may provide resources to improve cold tolerance in grapevine through molecular breeding. Our laboratory has identified various TF genes, such as VaCBF4 (Li et al ., ), VvICE1 (Li et al ., ), VaERF057 (Sun et al ., ), VaPAT1 (Yuan et al ., ), and VaAQUILO (Sun et al ., ), which are inducible by cold stress and that confer cold tolerance when expressed in A. thaliana or grapevine.…”